Now, his parents James (42) and Kelly Stanier (33) of Nobles Close, Coates, are considering taking legal action against the hospital in Bretton as they believe they should have been offered a genetics test.

James said: “When he was born he had problems with feeding but the doctors took tests and they couldn’t really find out what the problem was. It wasn’t until they took a genetics test that they realised he had some abnormalities with his chromosomes.

“Kelly had three miscarriages prior to having Cody but a genetics test was not offered.

“I feel that if we had been tested before Cody was conceived we could have gone down the IVF route.”

A big fundraising effort has already gone in to helping the family, including the donation of a car and special car seat.

A spokeswoman for Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, who run the hospital, said: “We cannot comment on individual cases to protect patient confidentiality.

“However, in cases such as this, the Trust follows the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists guidance. Each case has its own complexities and therefore needs to be treated on an individual basis. The Trust is in contact with the family and continues to offer them our support.”